One

ADAPTATION 

Adaptation is the extent to which the structure and physiology of organisms make them live successfully in a particular environment. 

Adaptation of selected organisms

TILAPIA

1. Tilapia has streamlined body to move easily in water. 

2. It possesses paired fins (pelvic and pectoral fins) for steering, balancing and swimming and unpaired fins (tail, dorsal and anal fins) for stability in water. 

3. Swim bladder for buoyancy in water

4. Gills for gaseous exchange.

BIRD

1. Woodpeckers have long slender pointed beaks for picking up insects. 

2. Hawks, falcons, kites have powerful curved beaks for killing prey

3. Duck have serrated edge beak for sieving small food particles. 

4. Sand pipers have long narrow beaks for probing into the mud and sand.

TYPES OF ADAPTATION

1. Structural Adaptation

Structural adjustments are changes in a living organism’s structure to better adapt to an environment. Examples were given above. 

2. Behavioural Adaptation

Behavioural adaptation is the change in an organism’s behaviour in order to better survive in an environment. Examples are hibernation, aestivation, migratory flight etc. 

3. Physiological Adaptation

Physiological adaptations are a method of the brain that enables an organism to best survive/reproduce in a setting. These changes could be the various methods an organism reacts to the environmental stimuli. This includes shivering, sweating etc.

EXAMPLES OF ADAPTATION. 

1. ADAPTATIVE COLOURATION

A. Camouflage: The organism has the same colour as the environment e.g grasshopper

B. Warning colouration: The organisms have attractive colours that serve as a warning to predator's e.g brightly coloured lady bettle and toads. 

C. Mimicry: The organism resembles another object that the predator doesn't eat for protection e.g stick insect resembling a twig

D. Nest parasitism: Some birds lay their eggs in other bird's nest for protection e.g cuckoo bird

BEHAVIOURAL ADAPTATION

1. Movement in cluster (herd) to ward off animals e.g elephants

2. Nuptial flights to form new colonies e.g bees

3. Aestivation : A period of inactivity during long periods of drought or heat e.g lung fish

4. Hibernation: A state of sleep-like and greatly reduced metabolic activities during winter and period of food scarcity e.g bear. 

5. Dormancy : A period of minimal metabolic activity e.g seeds of plants and cysts of protozoa.

SOCIAL INSECTS

BEES

Queen bee: A fertule female with larger abdomen than workers. It lays eggs. 

Worker: A sterile female smaller than drone and queen. It builds cell (a room in the hive), collect pollen grain

Drone: A fertile male with wings. The drone mate with the queen during nuptial flight. 

TERMITES

1. Soldier: A blind, sterile wingless male that defend the colony. 

2. Worker: A blind, sterile wingless female, smaller than the rest, that build and repair ant-hill, feed the others and take care of the nymphs. 

3. Queen: A fertile wingless female which produce eggs. 

4. King: A wingless male that fertilizes the queen

PLANTS ADAPTATIONS

1. Hydrophytes: They live in water or water-logged soil. 

2. Mesophytes: They live on land where water supply is adequate. 

3. Xerophytes: They live in dry areas where water supply is limited. 

4. Halophytes: They live in where there's high salt concentration in water.

NUTRITION

Nutrition is the ability of living organisms fo feed. It is seen in two phases: catabolism and anabolism. 

Anabolism is the building up of new substances as seen in photosynthesis while Catabolism is the breaking down of complex substances e.g respiration. 

Nutrition can be divided into two:

1. Plant Nutrition

2. Animal Nutrition

PLANT NUTRITION

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants manufacture their own food from carbon dioxide and water using energy absorbed by the chlorophyll from the sun. 

Light Stage

In the day, chlorophyll traps the solar energy and split water into H+ and OH- (photolysis). 

The hydoxyl ions give up its electron to the chlorophyll and form water and oxygen. Oxygen is then released as a by-product. 

ATP and NADP are formed. 

Dark Stage

These energy-rich molecules are used to reduce carbon dioxide to carbohydrates in a series of steps. 

MINERAL REQUIREMENTS OF PLANTS

1. Nitrogen - chlorophyll formation, protein and amino acids synthesis. 

2. Phosphorus - chlorophyll formation, root development, formation of ADP, ATP

3. Iron - formation of chlorophyll

4. Magnesium - chlorophyll formation

5. Potassium - cells formation, protein and carbohydrates synthesis

6. Sulphur - photosynthesis, growth

ANIMAL NUTRITION

They feed on food made by green plants and flesh of animals that consume them. 

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides - glucose, fructose and galactose. They are all sweet and soluble in water. 

Disaccharides

Sucrose (cane sugar) - glucose + fructose

Maltose (malt sugar) - glucose + glucose

Lactose (milk sugar) - glucose + galactose

They are more soluble in water and sweeter than monosaccharides. 

Polysaccharides

Hundreds of molecules of monosaccharides joined together (condensed) with loss of water molecules. 

Starch 

Cellulose

MODES OF NUTRITION

1. Autotrophic/Holophytic Nutrition : 

It is divided into two:

A. Photosynthesis: Use of light energy to produce food

B. Chemosynthesis: Use of chemical energy to produce food. 

2. Heterotrophic Nutrition: It is divided into four:

A. Holozoic/Animal Nutrition: Ingesting food particles and breaking them down. 

B. Saprophytic Nutrition: Feeding on the remains of dead organic matter e.g mushroom

C. Parasitic Nutrition: Feeding on or in a body of another organism called a host. 

Endoparasites: in the body of the host e.g tapeworm

Ectoparasites: on the body of the host e.g flea

D. Symbiotic Nutrition: Two organisms supplement their nutritional needs e.g fungus and alga (lichen). Alga provides oxygen and carbohydrates and fungus provides water and minerals. 

Insectivorous plants are plants that derive their nitrogenous materials from insects. They trap them and feed on them. 

Examples are Sundew, Venus flytrap

Parasitic plants grow on another plants and derive their nutritional requirements from them e.g mistletoe. 

Epiphytes are plants that grow on another plants for support.

No news was good news.

 A new box of mail stood on the glass table peacefully. But my eyes were far from it as I stared at the fireplace. It was cold so the fire was on heating the house. It glowed in its usual way and it seems to be glaring at me. At least it was better than me; in all ways. At least it glows as it does on summer nights. It heats the house like it always did. It did everything perfectly.

 "Aren't you going to open it?" I heard the familiar voice of my willowy single mom who seemed like a hundred parents to me. She had supported me financially until her money ran out and now she never ceased to support me emotionally.

 "What's the use?" I said still looking at the fireplace. "It's all the same." 

"Don't you give up and open it," she said and disappeared from the room. Yes. She had always being optimistic. Still is.

I looked down at the box. It was a brown big box with paper with a little writing on it. 

From: Happy Scholarships 

To: Todd Thomas 

' I hope I'm happy in the end,' I muttered sarcastically and slit the seal. I opened the box and saw a white envelope with the same notes:

From: Happy Scholarships

 To: Todd Thomas

 I took it and checked the back if there were any notes but found none so I just tore open the envelope and took out the letter. It was short and it looked precise.

  Dear Applicant Todd Thomas, 

We appreciate your effort and time to apply for Happy Scholarships but we regret to inform you that you were not selected among the chosen. We ask for your patience and understanding. You can apply next year and can be possibly chosen.

 From the Happy Scholarships team, Manager.

 I have read this too many times that it drives me crazy. I even went crazy recalling their slogan.  

 We always make you happy

 Well, I'm not happy, I thought holding my anger lest it consumes me. I squeezed the letter and stood up moving to the fireplace and calling out to my mom. She did not answer immediately but when she did, she came out in her favourite cloth - an apron - and yellow gloves.

  "What's it?" She asked. "What did you read?" 

"Same," I replied. "I'm heading out." As I crossed over to the sofa, she said, "Aren't you going to eat before you go?"

I grabbed my coat before answering, "No."

 With that, I wore my coat and walked out of the house.

***

Life is unfair and I know it.

Even though they were a part of my life and strives, I could hardly remember one. Ha, those endless interviews! But what was the use of remembering them when they yielded nothing? 

Now the only thing on my mind presently was the one I was going to now. I had seen it last month and called the number and what I heard was,

‘We will get back to you shortly

I had heard similar words before:

‘ We can get back to you in a day or two'.

But those days turned to never and when I wasn’t called throughout the month, I gave up but here I am getting prepared. I had the determination to achieve two things of which I had achieved one

Get to be called for an interview; and

Win the job.

Unfortunately, I had always only made it through the first stage as the second stage don’t usually pan out well. 

Now, I wore a green coat after styling my hair in the coolest manner and wearing a lemon head warmer on it. I rubbed my palms lightly for no direct reason.

“I’m off,” I shouted to my mom as I held the door knob. 

“Aren’t you going to eat before you leave?” My mom asked, appearing in the room. 

I must always be not doing something because I often hear ‘aren’t’ from her. 

“ At least a tea,” she continued. “ You’ll need the strength you know.”

“ I am not British and you know I fast every time I do something serious,” I reminded her. 

She knew but she always pretended not to. She just thought I needed strength and eating would give me that.

“Okay good luck,” she said after kissing my cheeks and I walked out.

Once I was out the door, the chilly breeze brushed on my face and all the girls' eyes were on me. I sighed.

I was used to it already because I was the most attractive guy, at least in town. Also, I take part in charity works like shoveling the snow off the pavements or helping old people lift their loads. I am pretty popular. 

Now I am about to face what I dread the most; calling attention to myself. But at the same time, it was what I wanted. Maybe I was confused or something...

“Todd!”

 “Hi, Todd.” 

“Come on, Todd.”

One of the girls, a Korean slipped her hand into mine and looked up at my face expectantly. 

“ Todd Oppa,” she said, smiling. “Where are you going?” 

I tried to remove her hand carefully when another girl, an American this time, put her hand over my neck.

“Todd, you are so good-looking,” She said. 

Now I must say what I always say to pursue them away. At least I need to now. Getting a job was more important and to increase my chances, I must not be late.

“ Okay beauties,” I said, sounding cheerful. I always did though. It was like I had a perfect life to outsiders but I knew I was broken inside because of my unluckiness. “We will see when I come back and I will do whatever you want.”

" Really?" They asked.

I nodded. " Yeah, really."

I had to book an appointment with each of them although I was not sure if I was going to keep them and they left after kissing my cheeks.

 When I was steer clear of them, I saw an American teenager in high school uniform and hands in pocket, walking on the pavements. She was walking to pass the way behind me but kept glancing at me. The glances were quick but I still caught her. Now, I was going to put one of my skills to test; flirting.

 As she was passing by me, I slid my hand into her arm and halted. I removed my hand as she stopped and turned to her.

 My hand was on her arm. " Hey, you are looking good this morning."

She blushed, avoiding my eyes at first. " You are cute."

I smiled. I hear that often. " Thank you. You made me lit up so I thought we might have a selfie together."

She could not resist. " Sure."

I took out my phone and putting my arm around her, took selfies. She could not look directly at the camera and I had to give her a confidence tap to make her. " Want it too?"

She nodded and I sent her the pictures.

" It is so nice to meet you... uh what is your name? I am Todd."

" I am Audrey."

" Audrey, that is a fine name. Nice to meet you, Audrey. I got to go now."

" You too." She giggled as she continued on her way.

I looked at the picture as I walked. I deleted it immediately. I had no use of it. It will just take space on my phone. That was enough time wasting.

 I ran over to my destination ignoring everyone else and only greeting old men and women. They replied me in the usual familiar way and warned to not hurt myself by hasting so much. I was almost stopped by an old woman but her phone rang and she was diverted. That got me relieved.

It was at Tanner’s coffee shop. The job, I mean. 

There were lots of high school students in it, gisting. I  heaved a sigh of relief, happy I was not late after checking my wrist-watch  and went inside.

When I got in, the eyes that turned to me stuck and stared in awe. 

“Isn’t he Todd?” I heard.

“I never thought I’d see him physically?” 

“ Isn’t he so hot?” 

I ignored the attention. As I said, I have had enough of wasting time this morning.

 I saw and went over to Tanner, a big round man. 

“Hey pretty boy, you are here already?” were his first words to me. 

He was extremely hairy and this almost hid his white skin. He was wearing a yellow apron and white shirt under. His trousers were black. 

“Yes. I am here for the job of a counterman,” I answered.

He noticed the eyes on me and smiled. “ Your looks got you a job,” he winked. “ But how about being a waiter? Your looks can attract customers.”

I wanted to argue because I did not want to sell my looks, especially not for him, but I held myself. I couldn't realistically reject a job after all the rejections.

“You got it, man,” I accepted. “So how much is my pay?”

“ Fifteen dollars per hour,” he answered. “ You may begin immediately.”

I went into the dressing room to change into the waiter’s clothes and came out after drinking a cup of coffee. 

“ Now get the orders,” Tanner told me and I went to the raised hands. First off to an old woman. 

“A deep coffee… and how handsome you are!” she commented. 

“Well, thank you, ma,” I said and was going when she held my hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong.

“I have a granddaughter whose name is Madeline and she is twenty-two. She is very beautiful,” she told me and I forced a smile nodding. Then gently, I released my hands. 

The next order was from a girl who kept staring at my face. 

“Um… what is your order?” I asked again for the fifth time. I felt uneasy with her staring at me. Other customers were waiting.

 She stared for some time more before giving her order. She and some others even asked for my number which I politely decline and finally, the school students flooded out. 

I worked for some hours more ignoring my tiredness. It was in the fifth hour that the door opened and someone entered.

No news was good news.

 A new box of mail stood on the glass table peacefully. But my eyes were far from it as I stared at the fireplace. It was cold so the fire was on heating the house. It glowed in its usual way and it seems to be glaring at me. At least it was better than me; in all ways. At least it glows as it does on summer nights. It heats the house like it always did. It did everything perfectly.

 "Aren't you going to open it?" I heard the familiar voice of my willowy single mom who seemed like a hundred parents to me. She had supported me financially until her money ran out and now she never ceased to support me emotionally.

 "What's the use?" I said still looking at the fireplace. "It's all the same." 

"Don't you give up and open it," she said and disappeared from the room. Yes. She had always being optimistic. Still is.

I looked down at the box. It was a brown big box with paper with a little writing on it. 

From: Happy Scholarships 

To: Todd Thomas 

' I hope I'm happy in the end,' I muttered sarcastically and slit the seal. I opened the box and saw a white envelope with the same notes:

From: Happy Scholarships

 To: Todd Thomas

 I took it and checked the back if there were any notes but found none so I just tore open the envelope and took out the letter. It was short and it looked precise.

  Dear Applicant Todd Thomas, 

We appreciate your effort and time to apply for Happy Scholarships but we regret to inform you that you were not selected among the chosen. We ask for your patience and understanding. You can apply next year and can be possibly chosen.

 From the Happy Scholarships team, Manager.

 I have read this too many times that it drives me crazy. I even went crazy recalling their slogan.  

 We always make you happy

 Well, I'm not happy, I thought holding my anger lest it consumes me. I squeezed the letter and stood up moving to the fireplace and calling out to my mom. She did not answer immediately but when she did, she came out in her favourite cloth - an apron - and yellow gloves.

  "What's it?" She asked. "What did you read?" 

"Same," I replied. "I'm heading out." As I crossed over to the sofa, she said, "Aren't you going to eat before you go?"

I grabbed my coat before answering, "No."

 With that, I wore my coat and walked out of the house.

***

Life is unfair and I know it.

Even though they were a part of my life and strives, I could hardly remember one. Ha, those endless interviews! But what was the use of remembering them when they yielded nothing? 

Now the only thing on my mind presently was the one I was going to now. I had seen it last month and called the number and what I heard was,

‘We will get back to you shortly

I had heard similar words before:

‘ We can get back to you in a day or two'.

But those days turned to never and when I wasn’t called throughout the month, I gave up but here I am getting prepared. I had the determination to achieve two things of which I had achieved one

Get to be called for an interview; and

Win the job.

Unfortunately, I had always only made it through the first stage as the second stage don’t usually pan out well. 

Now, I wore a green coat after styling my hair in the coolest manner and wearing a lemon head warmer on it. I rubbed my palms lightly for no direct reason.

“I’m off,” I shouted to my mom as I held the door knob. 

“Aren’t you going to eat before you leave?” My mom asked, appearing in the room. 

I must always be not doing something because I often hear ‘aren’t’ from her. 

“ At least a tea,” she continued. “ You’ll need the strength you know.”

“ I am not British and you know I fast every time I do something serious,” I reminded her. 

She knew but she always pretended not to. She just thought I needed strength and eating would give me that.

“Okay good luck,” she said after kissing my cheeks and I walked out.

Once I was out the door, the chilly breeze brushed on my face and all the girls' eyes were on me. I sighed.

I was used to it already because I was the most attractive guy, at least in town. Also, I take part in charity works like shoveling the snow off the pavements or helping old people lift their loads. I am pretty popular. 

Now I am about to face what I dread the most; calling attention to myself. But at the same time, it was what I wanted. Maybe I was confused or something...

“Todd!”

 “Hi, Todd.” 

“Come on, Todd.”

One of the girls, a Korean slipped her hand into mine and looked up at my face expectantly. 

“ Todd Oppa,” she said, smiling. “Where are you going?” 

I tried to remove her hand carefully when another girl, an American this time, put her hand over my neck.

“Todd, you are so good-looking,” She said. 

Now I must say what I always say to pursue them away. At least I need to now. Getting a job was more important and to increase my chances, I must not be late.

“ Okay beauties,” I said, sounding cheerful. I always did though. It was like I had a perfect life to outsiders but I knew I was broken inside because of my unluckiness. “We will see when I come back and I will do whatever you want.”

" Really?" They asked.

I nodded. " Yeah, really."

I had to book an appointment with each of them although I was not sure if I was going to keep them and they left after kissing my cheeks.

 When I was steer clear of them, I saw an American teenager in high school uniform and hands in pocket, walking on the pavements. She was walking to pass the way behind me but kept glancing at me. The glances were quick but I still caught her. Now, I was going to put one of my skills to test; flirting.

 As she was passing by me, I slid my hand into her arm and halted. I removed my hand as she stopped and turned to her.

 My hand was on her arm. " Hey, you are looking good this morning."

She blushed, avoiding my eyes at first. " You are cute."

I smiled. I hear that often. " Thank you. You made me lit up so I thought we might have a selfie together."

She could not resist. " Sure."

I took out my phone and putting my arm around her, took selfies. She could not look directly at the camera and I had to give her a confidence tap to make her. " Want it too?"

She nodded and I sent her the pictures.

" It is so nice to meet you... uh what is your name? I am Todd."

" I am Audrey."

" Audrey, that is a fine name. Nice to meet you, Audrey. I got to go now."

" You too." She giggled as she continued on her way.

I looked at the picture as I walked. I deleted it immediately. I had no use of it. It will just take space on my phone. That was enough time wasting.

 I ran over to my destination ignoring everyone else and only greeting old men and women. They replied me in the usual familiar way and warned to not hurt myself by hasting so much. I was almost stopped by an old woman but her phone rang and she was diverted. That got me relieved.

It was at Tanner’s coffee shop. The job, I mean. 

There were lots of high school students in it, gisting. I  heaved a sigh of relief, happy I was not late after checking my wrist-watch  and went inside.

When I got in, the eyes that turned to me stuck and stared in awe. 

“Isn’t he Todd?” I heard.

“I never thought I’d see him physically?” 

“ Isn’t he so hot?” 

I ignored the attention. As I said, I have had enough of wasting time this morning.

 I saw and went over to Tanner, a big round man. 

“Hey pretty boy, you are here already?” were his first words to me. 

He was extremely hairy and this almost hid his white skin. He was wearing a yellow apron and white shirt under. His trousers were black. 

“Yes. I am here for the job of a counterman,” I answered.

He noticed the eyes on me and smiled. “ Your looks got you a job,” he winked. “ But how about being a waiter? Your looks can attract customers.”

I wanted to argue because I did not want to sell my looks, especially not for him, but I held myself. I couldn't realistically reject a job after all the rejections.

“You got it, man,” I accepted. “So how much is my pay?”

“ Fifteen dollars per hour,” he answered. “ You may begin immediately.”

I went into the dressing room to change into the waiter’s clothes and came out after drinking a cup of coffee. 

“ Now get the orders,” Tanner told me and I went to the raised hands. First off to an old woman. 

“A deep coffee… and how handsome you are!” she commented. 

“Well, thank you, ma,” I said and was going when she held my hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong.

“I have a granddaughter whose name is Madeline and she is twenty-two. She is very beautiful,” she told me and I forced a smile nodding. Then gently, I released my hands. 

The next order was from a girl who kept staring at my face. 

“Um… what is your order?” I asked again for the fifth time. I felt uneasy with her staring at me. Other customers were waiting.

 She stared for some time more before giving her order. She and some others even asked for my number which I politely decline and finally, the school students flooded out. 

I worked for some hours more ignoring my tiredness. It was in the fifth hour that the door opened and someone entered.